The University of Kentucky Gender and Women’s Studies Graduate Conference
Justice on Trial
Call for Conference Papers
Submission Deadline: May 15th, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST.
The University of Kentucky Gender and Women’s Studies Graduate Student Organization is excited to announce that we will be hosting our 5th Gender & Women’s Studies conference on Saturday, August 31st, on our campus in Lexington, KY.
This year’s theme of the conference is “Justice on Trial.” As left-wing politicians and activists across the globe work for human rights and protections, right-wing parties have meanwhile paved the way for conservative laws that harm the bodily autonomy of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalized communities. Anti-abortion laws, anti-trans laws, and encroachment on academic freedom are just a few examples of the injustices people are facing at this juncture.
With this landscape in mind, this year’s conference will address the theme of justice, considering issues faced worldwide, such as (but not limited to) human rights, accessibility, inclusivity, and autonomy. We welcome submissions of individual research papers and panel proposals exploring the myriad meanings of justice within and outside of what we may today call the “justice system.” This conference aims to create an intellectually stimulating space for graduate students, activists, and faculty to exchange and develop their thoughts on contemporary academic/political conversations across different disciplines, nations, approaches, and positions.
Potential themes/topics might encompass biopolitics, bodily autonomy, reproductive justice, affect, disability studies, and bodies that occupy liminal spaces within hegemonic systems. Submissions may address issues such as (but not limited to):
- reproductive justice
- disability justice
- housing/tenant justice
- queer/trans justice
- environmental justice
- racial justice
- carceral justice
- immigration/refugee/border justice
Potential contributions are welcome in the form of individual papers and panel submissions. Each paper must be submitted separately for panel submissions, and indicate your proposed panel’s title in the submission link provided below. All submissions must be made by the deadline of May 15th, 2024, at 5 pm EST to be eligible for consideration. Notification regarding your submission’s status will be emailed by June 15th, 2024.
We are excited to host our conference primarily in person, fostering direct engagement and networking opportunities. We will offer online participation to acknowledge the expansive reach of our community and provide as many options for engagement as possible. Please note that virtual slots are limited.
For those interested in applying, an abstract of 250-300 words can be submitted at this link: https://kygws.as.uky.edu/cfp . Should you have any questions about the conference, please feel free to contact us at kygwsconference@gmail.com.
All best,
Gender and Women’s Studies Graduate Student Organization
University of Kentucky
